Isolated Chapel MTG Card
2011-09-30 - Number 242
2014-05-30 - Number 16
2018-04-27 - Number 241p
2018-04-27 - Number 241s
2018-04-27 - Number 241
2023-01-13 - Number 249
2023-01-13 - Number 397
2023-06-23 - Number 318
2023-11-17 - Number 337
2024-03-08 - Number 500
2024-03-08 - Number 269
2024-03-08 - Number 1028
2024-03-08 - Number 797
2024-04-19 - Number 301
2019-12-02 - Number 739
| Card sets | Released in 15 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Land |
Text of card
Isolated Chapel enters the battlefield tapped unless you control a Plains or a Swamp. : Add or to your mana pool.
Not every church is a place of faith.
Cards like Isolated Chapel
Isolated Chapel is a prized land card among Magic: The Gathering players for its capability to produce either white or black mana without entering the battlefield tapped, provided you control a Plains or a Swamp. This feature positions it closely alongside its counterparts in the “check land” cycle, such as Sunpetal Grove and Glacial Fortress, which offer similar conditions tailored to their respective color combinations.
Comparing it with lands in the “shock land” series, for instance, Godless Shrine, while they both can tap for the same mana types, Godless Shrine offers the versatility of coming into play untapped at the cost of life points – an option that Isolated Chapel lacks. Conversely, basic lands like Plains and Swamp come into play untapped unconditionally, but lack the adaptability of mana production that Isolated Chapel has.
In the realm of dual lands, it’s clear that each card carries its unique strategic advantage. Isolated Chapel fits best in decks that can consistently satisfy its condition for coming into play untapped, allowing for a smoother and potentially faster execution of player’s strategies without the life point trade-off required by some of its counterparts.
Cards similar to Isolated Chapel by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Isolated Chapel. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Niv to Light | Pioneer | Niv to Light | Pioneer League 2024-04-13 |
 | 5c Midrange | Pioneer | 5c Midrange | Pioneer League 2024-04-17 |
 | Esper Control | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 11 2024 | |
 | Mardu Humans | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 15 2024 | |
 | Orzhov Angels | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 15 2024 | |
 | Orzhov Midrange | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 09 2024 | |
 | Mardu Sacrifice | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 09 2024 | |
| Abzan Combo | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 13 2024 | |
| Five-color Yorion | Pioneer | 5c Midrange | F2F Tour Edmonton - Pioneer Super Qualifier |
 | Four-color Planeswalkers | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: AM Week 12 2024 |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Isolated Chapel enters the battlefield untapped if you control a Plains or a Swamp, granting immediate access to two types of mana. This feature can seamlessly align with your strategy, allowing for uninterrupted plays and a smooth mana curve, which could translate to a card advantage over opponents who might struggle with mana consistency.
Resource Acceleration: As a nonbasic land capable of tapping for both white and black mana, Isolated Chapel contributes to resource acceleration by diversifying your mana sources without sacrificing speed. Having access to various colors swiftly can be crucial in executing your game plan before your opponent stabilizes their board.
Instant Speed: While Isolated Chapel itself doesn’t operate at instant speed, it facilitates the casting of spells at instant speed by providing an untapped land upon entry. This ensures that you’re never a step behind when it’s crucial to respond to an opponent’s actions with removal spells, counterspells, or flash creatures, thus maintaining a dynamic position in the game.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Even though Isolated Chapel does not actually require you to discard a card, the necessity to have a certain card type already on the battlefield or in your hand can feel similar to a discard requirement, as it limits the card’s usability in the early game if the condition isn’t met.
Specific Mana Cost: Isolated Chapel taps for two specific colors of mana, white and black. This characteristic confines its inclusion to decks that run both colors, which can be restrictive for players not invested in such color combinations.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Although Isolated Chapel itself doesn’t have a mana cost, its condition to enter the battlefield untapped could be equated to a higher cost, since you need to control a Plains or Swamp or it enters tapped, slowing down your tempo when compared to other dual lands that don’t have such prerequisites.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Isolated Chapel is highly versatile, sliding into numerous dual-colored decks, particularly those based on white and black mana. Its ability to provide two colors of mana without coming into play tapped if you control a Plains or Swamp makes it an asset in various deck archetypes, from aggressive strategies to controlling builds.
Combo Potential: Dual lands like Isolated Chapel are crucial in setting up successful combos. They ensure a smoother mana base to execute combo pieces that often require a stringent mix of colors. The Chapel can enable key spells at crucial moments without the tempo loss typically associated with entering the battlefield tapped.
Meta-Relevance: In metas where multi-colored decks flourish, having Isolated Chapel boosts your deck’s competitiveness. It maintains a high relevance for constructing efficient mana bases in various tournament-level decks, particularly in formats where its legality permits its use. Adapting to the meta often involves refining your mana base, and Isolated Chapel is a cornerstone for any deck including its colors.
How to beat
Isolated Chapel serves as a staple in multicolor decks craving both white and black mana in the MTG universe. Its prime characteristic is the conditional requirement that influences its arrival on the battlefield untapped. To outmaneuver opponents wielding this card, players need to focus on disrupting this condition. Strategies often involve land destruction or denial, making cards like Ghost Quarter and Field of Ruin valuable as they can remove the Isolated Chapel from play, slowing down your opponent’s mana efficiency.
Taking advantage of this situation, players should then pressure their opponents with aggressive creatures or threat-intensive spells, capitalizing on the temporary setback in mana development. Game plans should also include flexible answers to versatile lands, such as Assassin’s Trophy or Blood Moon, which can neutralize the advantage granted by the chapel. Understanding the timing and managing your own resources in response to lands like Isolated Chapel will often position you to stay ahead in the game.
While Isolated Chapel does not boast the resilience of basic lands, its strategic importance makes it a worthy target. By efficiently disrupting your opponent’s mana base, your chances of controlling the pace and outcome of the match increase substantially.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Isolated Chapel MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad and Modern Event Deck 2014, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.
For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.
Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.
Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Isolated Chapel and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Printings
The Isolated Chapel Magic the Gathering card was released in 10 different sets between 2011-09-30 and 2024-04-19. Illustrated by 5 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2011-09-30 | Innistrad | ISD | 242 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Cliff Childs | |
| 2 | 2014-05-30 | Modern Event Deck 2014 | MD1 | 16 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Cliff Childs | |
| 3 | 2018-04-27 | Dominaria Promos | PDOM | 241p | 2015 | Normal | Black | Richard Wright | |
| 4 | 2018-04-27 | Dominaria Promos | PDOM | 241s | 2015 | Normal | Black | Richard Wright | |
| 5 | 2018-04-27 | Dominaria | DOM | 241 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Richard Wright | |
| 6 | Secret Lair Drop | SLD | 739 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Helge C. Balzer | ||
| 7 | 2023-01-13 | Dominaria Remastered | DMR | 249 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Richard Wright | |
| 8 | 2023-01-13 | Dominaria Remastered | DMR | 397 | 1997 | Normal | Black | Richard Wright | |
| 9 | 2023-06-23 | Tales of Middle-earth Commander | LTC | 318 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Craig Elliott | |
| 10 | 2023-11-17 | The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander | LCC | 337 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Richard Wright | |
| 11 | 2024-03-08 | Fallout | PIP | 500 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daniel Ljunggren | |
| 12 | 2024-03-08 | Fallout | PIP | 269 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daniel Ljunggren | |
| 13 | 2024-03-08 | Fallout | PIP | 1028 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daniel Ljunggren | |
| 14 | 2024-03-08 | Fallout | PIP | 797 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Daniel Ljunggren | |
| 15 | 2024-04-19 | Outlaws of Thunder Junction Commander | OTC | 301 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Cliff Childs |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Isolated Chapel has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |